by photojournalist Ryan Marchese
Saturday October 25th marked a huge check off my bucket list; I finally got a chance to see AFI live. As a freshman in high school, I was just figuring out my musical tastes. When some of my senior friends introduced me to AFI my mind was blown. At that time, the band was classified as hardcore punk, coining the term East Bay Hard Core, to define themselves. Since then, they’ve delved into many different genres within the rock umbrella, my favorite of which being the post hardcore/horror punk era, think The Art of Drowning, All Hollow’s E. P., Sing the Sorrow, and December Underground. I had all those albums on cd and played them until they were literally unplayable. But I don’t discriminate against the albums and sub genres that came before and after. My admiration for the band extends throughout their entire career, early 90s-Present.
And how could it not? Davey Havok has always been a force to be reckoned with since hitting the music scene. Between his ever-changing style, stage presence, and vocal talent I have great admiration for him. The range he possesses, both with singing and screaming, is impressive to say the least, and has played a vital role in the experimentation the band has gone through over the years. It’s impossible to overstate just how much talent Hunter, Jade, and Adam bring to the band, but Davey has an undeniable, frontman presence.
The current tour centers around the release of their 12th studio album, Silver Bleeds the Black Sun. This latest installment in their discography is the culmination of the shift within their last few albums. The Blood Album and Bodies left the pop rock/alternative rock stylings seen in Crash Love and Burials, instead embracing a combination of new wave and post-punk tones. Now, they have gone headfirst into the goth rock rabbit hole, and it has been well-received.
Before AFI took the stage at The Ritz Ybor on Saturday night, Canadian electronic artist TR/ST transformed the venue into something between a dreamscape and a fever dream. Bathed in shadowy light and fog, the duo of Robert Alfons and Lia Braswell delivered a set that was both haunting and hypnotic. Their pulsing synths, driving drumbeats, and moody vocals served as a perfect predecessor to AFI’s goth rock/post-punk Silver Bleeds the Black Sun.
The quiet, calm left by TR/ST was turned into a chaotic cacophony as AFI took the stage. Kicking things off with a throwback from Black Sails in the Sunset, fans chanted along “Through our bleeding, we are one” to the opener “Strength Through Wounding.” The set included a mix of all their hits from the late 90s up until their current release. The crowd was treated to favorites like “Girls Not Grey,” “Days of the Phoenix,” “This Celluloid Dream,” and “I Hope You Suffer.” It also featured four tracks off Silver Bleeds the Black Sun, including: “Holy Visions,” “Behind the Clock,” “Marguerite,” and “A World Unmade.” Whether it was spinning kicks, dancing with mic stands or leaping from platforms, Davey, Hunter, and Jade barely stopped moving. The energy the band brought to the stage never dipped below 110%.
AFI’s time at The Ritz Ybor proved that legacy endures. The band played with the passion of musicians who’ve lived every lyric, every chord, and every scream they delivered. It wasn’t just a performance; it was a shared release; a reminder of how their music still resonates so powerfully after all these years. My only complaint after seeing AFI for the first time, was that I really wanted more. I could have listened to them for another hour, easily, but I’ll just have to catch them the next time around. For fans of the band, this wasn’t just a show, it was a communion. Together we all formed one dark flame.
